Bob Sparks, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bob SparksNovember 23, 2016

Former Florida Democratic Party Chairman and statewide office candidate Scott Maddox is involved in another political fight this Thanksgiving season. Though elected to another term on the Tallahassee City Commission, he was blocked from taking the oath of office earlier this week. Maddox, who served as FDP Chairman from 2003-2006, is facing a legal challenge […]

Bob SparksNovember 14, 2016

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Plenty of congratulations are going out to the Donald Trump campaign, which is well-deserved. Others unhappy with the outcome are expressing other sentiments. Several pundits are in the process of analyzing and pronouncing “winners and losers.” In Florida, the lists on both sides are long, but not necessarily complete. The Tampa Bay Times’ Adam Smith correctly mentions Trump’s Florida […]

Bob SparksNovember 9, 2016

With so many high-profile races going on in Florida, other contests were on the ballot, but under the radar. Florida Politics pointed out 10 of those down-ballot races to watch with backgrounds on each. While not as momentous as Donald Trump winning Florida, these races were interesting in their own right. Miami-Dade County Mayor Republican Mayor Carlos Gimenez went from a […]

Bob SparksNovember 2, 2016

Donald Trump may be on his way to winning Florida. Is that really possible? Of the seven polls taken in the past week, Trump leads in three surveys, each by four points. Hillary Clinton leads in three of them, each by one point. In what may be another ominous development for Democrats, Florida is into […]

Bob SparksOctober 13, 2016

Floridians now have an extra week to register to vote. The State of Florida, according to a federal judge, has set up “unconstitutional” firm deadlines for voter registration, which must be remedied. The offending statute is 97.055 Florida Statutes that says voter registration “must be closed on the 29th day before each election and must remain […]

Bob SparksAugust 24, 2016

Whether or not one is following the GOP primary for Florida’s 2nd Congressional District, it is getting a lot of attention both inside and outside of the Panhandle. The winner will succeed Democrat Gwen Graham, who chose not to seek re-election in a Florida Supreme Court-inspired redrawn district. Attorney Mary Thomas is under assault in […]

Bob SparksAugust 17, 2016

Donald Trump and his campaign are sending a signal with the announcement of Steve Bannon as campaign CEO and Kellyanne Conway as campaign manager. Aside from the clear message that his is a campaign in trouble, it also provides a clear picture of a major focus of his campaign going forward. That focus is to […]

Bob SparksJune 14, 2016

Immediately after a tragedy of monstrous proportion, such as the one perpetrated by the terrorist in Orlando, sports naturally become far less important. Caring about one team gaining a game in the standings pales in comparison to what all of us lose when monsters set out to attack our way of life. It is right […]

Bob SparksMay 12, 2016

Most Florida voters have some vitally important choices to make in this year’s primary election in late August. Republicans and Democrats have some key choices to make, but some want to expand the voter pool. For a quarter century, Leon County has been well served by its Supervisor of Elections, Ion Sancho. Voters in Tallahassee […]

Bob SparksMay 5, 2016

Donald Trump will be the nominee for president for the Republican Party. Take a moment and let that sink in. With all of the insults, angst, accusations of fraud, and just plain bellowing, who thought that was even remotely possible in August? On August 6, the Trump Train made its first stop at Cleveland’s Quicken […]

Bob Sparks
Image via Palatka Main Street.

Critic hits Leon County’s Scott Maddox right where he lives

RNC’s ground game behind Donald Trump deserves more credit for Florida victory

Down-ballot races throughout Florida provided some interesting results as well

Is Donald Trump on his way to winning Florida?

Bob Sparks: The unconstitutional burden of voter registration deadlines

Being a Charlie Crist appointee will not determine the fate of Mary Thomas

Donald Trump campaign shakeup — will it be enough?

Sports play positive role in times of tragedy

Bob Sparks: Voters still have plenty of choices without open primaries

Bob Sparks: Continue to bet against Donald Trump at your own risk